Accompanying this, the downloadable content is included in the Season Pass for the game.[1] The main story itself is canon, contrary to previous thought that it would be non-canon. The Infamy was released on 19 February 2013 for PC and Xbox 360. On 20 February 2013, the PS3 version was released alongside with The Betrayal (which was slated for 19 and 20 March 2013). Lastly, The Redemption was released on 23 and 24 April 2013 for all compatible consoles.

In the newly-founded United States of America, Ratonhnhaké:ton awakens from an unsettling dream to find that, despite his efforts to deliver justice, a new king had been crowned – George Washington. Ratonhnhaké:ton then proceeds to attempt an epic quest to restore a kingless society.

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Welcome to Assassin's Creed III's Tyranny of King Washington - a 3-part DLC series exploring an alternate reality in which George Washington goes mad with unlimited power, foregoing Presidency to rule as tyrannical King. In this alternate world, Connor is and remains Ratonhnhaké:ton. Having never become an Assassin, he must endure new trials, acquiring the skills he'll need to take down a possessed Washington and win freedom for his land once and for all. - Ubisoft.[2]

By collecting Lucid Memory Fragments, it is shown that while camping, Connor was greeted by a fearful Washington, who explained he was having unspeakable nightmares involving him, and that he believed the source was a spherical artifact he had taken from an officer following the Siege of Yorktown. Washington remarked that oddly, he could not remember the man's face. Connor recognized it as an Apple of Eden, and suggested he take the artifact into his possession. As Connor reached out to take the Apple from Washington's hands, everything went black.

The episode began with Ratonhnhaké:ton asleep near a riverbank in the Frontier, wearing an animal spirit outfit. Ratonhnhaké:ton was then awoken by his mother, Kaniehtí:io, who alerted him to a threat in the forest. He followed her, questioning why she was alive and what had happened. Eventually, they came upon a Bluecoat patrol attacking the villagers. After dispatching the Bluecoats, a woman warned Kaniehtí:io that King George was looking for her. Kaniehtí:io led Ratonhnhaké:ton to the top of the hill, while he questioned the surroundings, and why the woman referred to George Washington as "King."

Bluecoats setting fires in Concord

As they reached the top of the hill, they witnessed a group of Bluecoats forcing the Concord townspeople into the church and barricading the door. The Bluecoat leader demanded that the people inform him of the location of Kaniehtí:io. As they insisted that they did not know her location, the Bluecoats set fire to the church. Ratonhnhaké:ton and his mother quickly ambushed Washington's men, and liberated the townspeople, only for a cannonball blast to kill the group before they could escape.

Later, Ratonhnhaké:ton and Kaniehtí:io returned to Kanatahséton, where they met another Bluecoat attack. King Washington, accompanied by Benedict Arnold and Israel Putnam, killed Ratonhnhaké:ton's mother with a scepter containing an Apple of Eden. Ratonhnhaké:ton fought Washington, only to be defeated by the Apple's power, and was later shot and stabbed with a musket by Washington. Afterwards, he slipped into a state of unconsciousness.

When Ratonhnhaké:ton awoke in a cave, five months had passed and the Clan Mother told him what happened. She noted that he wasn't surprised about the news of his mother's death, saying that he took her murder very well. Ratonhnhaké:ton was then tasked by Oiá:ner to climb the Red Willow, pick its virgin branches, and drink the willow tea. He heeded her instruction, and visited the Sky World, where he encountered his animal spirit, which gave him the power to become invisible at will, as well as summon a group of wolves to ambush his enemies. Shortly thereafter, he was requested by one of his fellow tribesmen, Kahionhaténion, to assist in finding and rescuing his brother, Teiowí:sonte. The two tracked down a group of Bluecoats, and discovered that Teiowí:sonte was to be executed along with some of his fellow tribesmen. Once they have been rescued, Ratonhnhaké:ton's returned to Oiá:ner for further instructions.

Ratonhnhaké:ton speaking with a dying Benedict Arnold

When he returned to their hideout, he discovered all of the villagers had been killed, and a dying Oiá:ner. With her dying breath, she told him to kill Washington, as well as Israel Putnam and Benedict Arnold, finishing what his mother started. Ratonhnhaké:ton tracked down Putnam to the encampment in Valley Forge, and tailed him to one of the Forts in the frontier, where Benedict Arnold was stationed. Ratonhnhaké:ton made his way inside the fort and assassinated Arnold. Before he died, Arnold told him to find Benjamin Franklin in Boston and free him. While Ratonhnhaké:ton was confused by Arnold's words, Putnam approached from behind, and knocked Ratonhnhaké:ton out with his pistol. When he awoke, Ratonhnhaké:ton found himself captured and bound in a slave cart heading for Boston. Putnam revealed his intentions of taking the command of Boston from Franklin.

Ratonhnhaké:ton awoke in a cell, and was soon approached by Washington, Putnam and Franklin. Washington was greatly surprised to see the man whom he had shot point blank to be alive. Putnam offered Ratonhnhaké:ton as a gift, much to the King's delight and Franklin's dismay. Franklin attempted to shift the attention to one of the rebels that he had captured, but Washington was not interested. He ordered both prisoners to be executed, along with several citizens taken at random. Franklin objected to the idea, but backed down once Washington called him out on his doubts. Afterwards, the King told Putnam that if he can deal with the rebels in Boston, Washington would grant the command of the city to him, on account of Franklin losing his conviction.

Ratonhnhaké:ton drinking the Red Willow tea

After Washington left, Ratonhnhaké:ton used his powers to trick the guards into opening his cell. After escaping and locking the guards inside, he found that the rebel whom Franklin mentioned was Kanen'tó:kon. After freeing his friend, Ratonhnhaké:ton went into an adjacent warehouse to search of his equipment. Kanen'tó:kon went with him, and found a vial which contained the tea made from the leaves of the Red Willow, and argued with Ratonhnhaké:ton about the benefits of drinking it. Seeing no other option, Ratonhnhaké:ton opted to drink the tea instead of Kanen'tó:kon, which caused him to go on a Sky World Journey once more.

After drinking the tea, Ratonhnhaké:ton was transported to the Sky World again. There, he met another spirit animal, the eagle. Ratonhnhaké:ton saw some bobcats trying to harm the eagle's nest and helped to defend it. After fending off the bobcat attack, the eagle granted him the power of Eagle Flight.

Ratonhnhaké:ton woke up next to Kanen'tó:kon in the warehouse. Kanen'tó:kon told him that the Bluecoats had found them and sounded the alarm. Ratonhnhaké:ton used his new power to leave the room, and dispatched the Bluecoats outside. Benjamin Franklin entered the warehouse with his men, who began searching for Ratonhnhaké:ton and Kanen'tó:kon, while Franklin left. After eliminating the opposition and leaving the warehouse, the pair caught up to Franklin, who sent more of his men to stall them while he tried to escape. Ratonhnhaké:ton gave chase and eventually caught up with Franklin, while Kanen'tó:kon stayed behind to fend off the Bluecoats.

Franklin seemed confused and questioned Ratonhnhaké:ton's words. The two were interrupted with a sudden appearance of Washington, who used the Apple to attack Ratonhnhaké:ton.

Ratonhnhaké:ton being haunted by his mother's ghost

Ratonhnhaké:ton avoided Washington's attacks, and used his new-found abilities to fight him. Washington used the Apple to collapse the ground beneath Ratonhnhaké:ton, who used Eagle Flight to leap between appearing platforms to escape. As he did this, enormous phantoms of Washington and Kaniehtí:io began to torment him. When Ratonhnhaké:ton landed on the final platform, it collapsed and caused him to fall into an abyss.

Ratonhnhaké:ton awoke in an alleyway, far from where he caught up to Franklin. He was soon found by Kanen'tó:kon who introduced him to Samuel Adams, the leader of the rebels in Boston, and they left for a safehouse. There, Adams explained his rebels were planning to leave Boston or his rebels would be crushed. However, he wanted to rescue some prisoners, but feared Franklin would ambush them.

Ratonhnhaké:ton explained he was planning to hunt down Franklin, so Adams suggested he visit a local tavern to gain information on his whereabouts. Despite the presence of suspicious Bluecoats, Ratonhnhaké:ton blended in by playing a board game, and overheard a soldier complaining about a message he had to deliver from Franklin to Putnam. Tailing the soldier, Ratonhnhaké:ton pickpocketed the letter and read that Franklin intended to meet Putnam at the docks, and then quietly returned it in the messenger's satchel.

Ratonhnhaké:ton confronting Franklin

At the docks, Ratonhnhaké:ton watched as Franklin was informed that Putnam refused to meet him, and had been replaced by him as governor of the city. Franklin noticed his sentinels had been taken out, so Ratonhnhaké:ton loosed his arrows to prevent him from escaping. The injury once again released Franklin from the Apple's spell, and Ratonhnhaké:ton took him to Adams's safehouse. The rebel leader was outraged, and wanted Franklin killed, despite his protests that he wanted to atone for what he did.

Ratonhnhaké:ton convinced Adams to spare him due to the intelligence he could provide, at which point Franklin disclosed the king had returned to New York to deal with Thomas Jefferson's rebels there. Kanen'tó:kon mentioned a sympathetic captain stationed at Boston Neck could help them leave the city and join Jefferson. Franklin said he would help enter Washington's palace, but Adams bitterly refused his help.

Adams's rebels left Ratonhnhaké:ton and Franklin in the city. The Assassin was more receptive to Franklin's help and set off on errands to craft a key to Washington's palace, retrieving a special metal from the blacksmith David Walston and plans Franklin had given a soldier at the tavern. There, Ratonhnhaké:ton sat down to play a game with the soldier, who gloatingly Putnam had started a rumor that a captain at Boston Neck was sympathetic to the rebels, and that they had been massacred. Angered, Ratonhnhaké:ton struck the soldier and beat up the others relaxing at the tavern before retrieving the plans. He verified that Adams had been killed by Putnam and presumed that Kanen'tó:kon was dead as well.

With time running out, Ratonhnhaké:ton returned to Franklin to inform him, and noted they would have to leave by sea. Franklin knew of a ship they could use, and Ratonhnhaké:ton stole a Bluecoat uniform for Franklin to wear while he escorted him. They found Robert Faulkner, who struck out at Franklin for confiscating the Aquila from him. After explaining Franklin's change of loyalties, Ratonhnhaké:ton promised to return Faulkner's ship if he gathered a crew to sail to New York.

Putnam holding Kanen'tó:kon hostage

After taking out the snipers guarding the Aquila and untying the ship's moorings, Ratonhnhaké:ton led the crew Faulkner had gathered in a charge on the pier. He held off soldiers firing at the sailors as they swam to the drifting ship. Putnam showed up with Kanen'tó:kon, threatening to execute him if they did not surrender. Ratonhnhaké:ton surprised him by using his animal powers and assassinated him. He listened as Putnam expressed regret for not fighting off the Apple's influence, and then died. The two warriors subsequently dove into the pier, dodging gunfire.

As the Aquila arrived in New York Bay, Kanen'tó:kon expressed regret for suggesting to Putnam that Ratonhnhaké:ton would escape via the docks while being tortured, but Ratonhnhaké:ton did not mind. Faulkner declared they were in sight of the city, and the two men gazed in awe as they looked upon Washington's New York Pyramid for the first time.

As the duo gazed at the fortress, the king's fleet launched an attack on the Aquila. After taking the wheel and destroying the enemy ships, Ratonhnhaké:ton ordered they take the flags from the wreckage to infiltrate the lower bay. There they destroyed more of Washington's ships until they ran out of ammunition, so Ratonhnhaké:ton ordered everyone to evacuate while he rammed the ship.

Franklin was swept ashore, where he was confronted by King Washington. Franklin refused to come under his power again, but the king revealed he wanted to kill him instead. Kanen'tó:kon tackled Washington off his horse, knocking his scepter aside, but the king's guards came to his rescue, firing repeatedly at the warrior, killing him. Washington recovered his scepter and returned to his palace.

Ratonhnhaké:ton soon came and found Franklin kneeling over Kanen'tó:kon's body, and resolved to undertake another Sky World Journey. He encountered the spirit of his mother once more, protesting his decision to defy her for a third time, and journeyed to meet the spirit of the bear, which granted him the strength to shake the earth.

Franklin watched over his unconscious body. When Ratonhnhaké:ton awoke, Franklin noticed his eyes had turned an unnatural blue. The two separated to find Jefferson's forces, but reunited when they found his rebels, buoyed by the destruction of the fleet, had launched an attack on the palace courtyard. Their offensive was faltering, so Ratonhnhaké:ton used his new power to cut off Washington's reinforcements, and opened an escape path for Jefferson's men.

Ratonhnhaké:ton meeting Jefferson

Ratonhnhaké:ton introduced himself to Jefferson, and met with him afterwards in an alley. Jefferson explained they need the civilians to join the rebellion, and directed him to assassinate John Fitzwilliams, an official hoarding food supplies. After killing Fitzwilliams, Ratonhnhaké:ton and Warren distributed food to the hungry masses, winning their support. Washington responded by making a speech declaring an invasion of England, but Ratonhnhaké:ton's continued acts of civil disobedience gained more support for the rebels, convincing the civilians to attack their military oppressors.

Ratonhnhaké:ton gave the signal to start the assault on Washington's palace by working with Godfrey to detonate the lighthouse in Fort George. The following morning, as chaos raged throughout the city, Franklin gave Ratonhnhaké:ton the key to Washington's throne room. Entering the palace, Ratonhnhaké:ton used his freerunning skills and animal powers to find Washington, while deducing from clues how his mother had stolen the scepter from him. Eventually, he found the king atop the pyramid, surveying the raging battle beneath him. The Assassin offered to spare the king if he gave him the Apple, recognizing he was a victim of its corruptive influence, but Washington refused.

In the ensuing fight, Ratonhnhaké:ton broke the four corners of the stained glass ceiling, causing them to fall: a wounded Washington slumped into his throne and died. Ratonhnhaké:ton approached the Apple, when spectres of Kanen'tó:kon and his mother appeared urging him not to claim it. Finally, a vision of himself, wearing the Assassin robes, appeared demanding he take it.

Washington passing the Apple to Connor

On touching the Apple, the illusionary timeline collapsed, freeing Connor and Washington. After aggressively glaring at each other, Washington picked up the Apple and gave it to Connor, declaring he did not want it. Connor was also reticent about possessing such a powerful artifact, so the commander suggested sealing it in a weighted bag and dropping it into the sea.

Afterwards, Connor took the Aquila out to sea to dump the Apple. Meanwhile, Washington sat in his office when the Apple generated one final illusion of a man suggesting the commander crown himself king, to strengthen the new republic. Having seen what he became in the other world, Washington defiantly dismissed the notion, at which point the man disappeared.

The Tyranny of King Washington was originally announced under the title of The Madness of King George.[4] This seems to be a reference to the film of the same name, an adaptation of the play The Madness of George III, which chronicles the declining mental health of George William Frederick, better known as King George III, ruler of Great Britain from 1760 to 1820. It has not been officially stated why the name was changed, though it is possible that this was simply done to make the downloadable content's story more distinct from the otherwise unrelated film.

Originally, Ratonhnhaké:ton would have gained his animal abilities by touching a "soul stone" with an animal tattoo imprinted on it. However, the development team's consultant disliked the idea and suggested the use of the Red Willow tree.[5]

In an exclusive interview with Creative Director Marc-Alexis Côté, he stated that The Tyranny of King Washington, as a whole, encompassed an extra 7 hours of gameplay.